Source: French to English Tester Published on: 2026-05-05
Source: The Conversation – France in French (3)– By Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian, Professor of Clinical Neuropsychology, University of Cambridge
It is particularly difficult to help children affected both by autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disability to communicate better. The results of a recent study open up a new avenue to improve their situation: transcranial magnetic stimulation, a non-invasive and painless technique.
It is estimated, based on work conducted in the United States, thatabout 30 to 35% of autistic childrenhave an intellectual disability.
These children haveless chance of receiving carethan those who are not affected, notably because doctors are not always aware of the approaches to adopt, and because the various insurance contracts cover the costs related to intellectual disabilities more or less well. And this, even though their needs are greater than those of other autistic children,which weighs more heavily on their families. This population is moreover too often neglected by research work.
If talk therapies and behavioral programscan help some of these children, these approaches must be implemented by specialists. However, their number is insufficient, including in high-income countries.
These various observations led us to test another type of intervention: the application of brief targeted magnetic pulses, intended to stimulate precise regions of the brain. This technique, known as non-invasive brain stimulation orneuromodulation, requires neither surgery, nor anesthesia, nor medication.
Bursts of pulses
Placed near the scalp, a device generates a rapidly changing magnetic field. Harmless, it passes through the skull and stimulates the activity of the underlying neurons. This approach has been used for years totreat depression, and researchers are increasingly exploring the possibility that it may also alleviate social and communication difficulties, which are a core symptom of autism.
The version we tested is based on a technique called stimulation bytheta bursts(theta-burst stimulation). Rather than sending impulses one by one, it delivers them in rapid bursts. Each session is therefore considerably shortened compared to traditional protocols – a major advantage when it comes to asking young children to sit still and cooperate.
In our study, published in theBritish Medical Journal, each session lasted only a few minutes, and the complete protocol spanned only five days. One group of children received real stimulation, the other a fake stimulation.
During this placebo condition, the equipment was applied in the same manner and produced vibrations, but no pulse was delivered. This device allowed for comparing the results without either group knowing what they had received, thereby ensuring the reliability of the observations.
One hundred ninety-four children participated in the study. The average age was about 6.5 years. Nearly half of the participants had an intelligence quotient below 70, the threshold below which intellectual disability is generally diagnosed (all, however, had scored above 50 – the minimum required to ensure a reliable diagnosis and meaningful participation in the study).
Children were recruited from multiple sites, through postings in outpatient clinics and via local clinical registries. All legal guardians gave their written consent.
The parents completed a questionnaire about their child’s social communication abilities before the treatment, immediately after, and then one month later.
Promising results, but still preliminary
The results indicate that the protocol significantly improved social communication in children with autism spectrum disorders. According to clinical research standards, the observed effect can be considered significant. The improvements noted after five days were still present one month later. Furthermore, the children’s language abilities also progressed.
No serious adverse effects were reported, all minor side effects resolved spontaneously.
There is little data concerning the effectiveness of interventions for autistic children with intellectual disabilities, as they are often excluded from clinical trials. The mere fact that this trial included a significant number of them is, in itself, noteworthy. However, this work represents only a first step, and many unknowns remain.
It is still unknown whether the benefits will persist beyond one month, and for how long. The number of sessions necessary to maintain them will still have to be determined. It will also be necessary to evaluate the effects of transferring this approach from the laboratory to the context of a regular consultation.
To conclude, it should be noted that brain stimulation does not replace behavioral interventions. The equipment needed to implement it is neither inexpensive nor available everywhere. However, classical approaches often require — when they are available — setting up daily sessions with a professional, over several weeks, which also represents an investment of time, money, and specialized resources.
For thefamilies already hard hit by the situation, a five-day treatment is quite another matter. If it results in modest but lasting progress in communication ability, the impact of this type of care could be considerable, both for the child and for their loved ones, significantly improving their well-being and quality of life.
Barbara Jacquelyn Sahakian receives funding from the Wellcome Trust. Her research work is part of the “Mental Health” and “Neurodegeneration” research themes of the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), affiliated with the NIHR. She receives royalties from Cambridge University Press for her book *Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life*.
Christelle Langley benefits from funding from the Wellcome Trust. Her research work falls within the research areas “Mental Health” and “Neurodegeneration” of the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), affiliated with the NIHR. She receives royalties from Cambridge University Press for her book *Brain Boost: Healthy Habits for a Happier Life*.
Fei Li benefits from funding from the National Natural Science Foundation of China. She is affiliated with the Department of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics of the Pediatric Society of the Chinese Medical Association.
Qiang Luo does not work for, advise, own shares in, receive funding from any organization that could benefit from this article, and has declared no other affiliations than his research institution.
–ref. Cerebral magnetic stimulation: a five-day treatment could help autistic children communicate better, according to a new study –https://theconversation.com/brain-magnetic-stimulation-a-five-day-treatment-could-help-autistic-children-communicate-better-according-to-a-new-study-282025